Cam mechanism applicable to knitting machines



Oct. 1, 1929.

G. s. BLACKBURN CAM MECHANISM APPLICABLE TO KNITTING IACHINES Filed Oct. 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. s. BLACKBURN 1,730,054

CAM MECHANISM APPLICABLE TO KNITTING IACHINES Filed on. 1. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 18 3 j 18 F g Figa Patented Get. l, 1929 GEORGE SMITH BLACKBURN,

WW mm- OF NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAEED CAM MECHANISM APPLICABLE TO KNITTING MACLENES' Eiiplication filed October 1, 1928, Serial No. 309,468, and in Great Britain October 7 1927.

This invention relates to improvements in the extra cam mechanism of straight-bar knitting machines of the type known as cottons, which is employed when producing-tapered spliced parts in a garment, such for example as a pointed heel splice in a stocking.

In such machines, one or more extra cams are employed as a means of drawing longer loops where the reinforcing or splicing threads are introduced at each side of the work, when the edge of the splice is consequently at an angle to the vertical wales.

The longer loops are drawn at any required part of each course in a straight-bar knitting machine of the type described, by

giving the needle-bar or bars an additional movement, which positions them closer up to the sinkers during the drawing of the loops at the particular parts where such longer loops are required, that is, at the point or points where the splicing thread or threads is or are introduced into the work.

The extra cams previously employed for this purpose, have hitherto been of some length, and their cross sectional shape has been varied at different parts of their length, whilst the anti-friction rollers in connection therewith, have each been arranged to travel from one end of its cam to the other, so as to utilize the differently shaped portions of the cams, as is required to vary the position of the needle bars when drawing courses at different portions of the work.

These long cams have been graduated in shape from one end to the other, in order to hold the needle bars closer in to the sinkers for longer or shorter per1ods, as is required in order to meet the requirements of a grad uated or tapered splice.

The objection to the use of a long cam such as that describedis, that it envolves complicated mechanism for traversing the roller associated therewith from one end thereof to the other.

When however the splicing is effected at the two edges of a garment which is being produced in the flat state, as is the case with stockings, the desired result it is found can he obtained as will be hereinafter described, by merely altering the timing of the cam which gives the additional movement to to the needle bars, instead of varying the length of the periods during which the said bars are held closer in to the sinkers.

According to this invention, the desired result is therefore attained by employing a cam for the purpose with two lifts both of which are angularly adjusted by suitable mechanism, automatically controlled, whereby the timing of both lift-s is varied as required, one being advanced and the other retarded whereby the space between them is varied.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a sectional side elevation showing automatically controlled cam mechanism for the purpose described, constructed and arranged according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front View of the cam-lever in connection with the automatically adjusted cam.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, and

Fig. 4 a side elevation showing the adjustable cam detached, drawn to a larger scale 7' than Figs. 1 and 2. I

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the cam controlling mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the arrangement employed'for disconnecting the extra cam mechanism from the needle-bar mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an alternative arrangement for controlling the adjustable part B, E, F on the left-hand side of the hose, and another splicing thread into a corresponding part 6, G, H on the right-hand side. The splicing threads are as usual sub- Cit sequently worked into the two partly detached lower portions J and K, which form the lower portion of the heel.

In order to regulate the length of the loops in different parts of each course knitted, as is necessary in order to produce a stocking with loops exceeding'the normal length solely in the spliced parts, the additional cam or cams previously referred to are when drawing certain parts of a course, adapted to adjust the needle-bar closer up to the sinkers than the ordinary needle-bar cams. The needle-bar may thus assume either of two positions in drawing any course in which splicing threads are introduced, and said positions will for clearness be hereinafter referred to as the normal and splicing positions respectively.

In commencing to knit the spliced parts described, the needle-bar is according to the present invention adjusted in different positi'onsin different parts of the course as follows :In drawing a course from left to right for example, the needle-bar is ad usted .in the splicing position whilst the slur-cock is traversing from A to B (see Fig. 8), it is returned to its normal position whilst the slur-cock is traversing from B to C, and is again moved into the splicing position whilst the slur-cock is traversing from C to D. In drawing a course from right to left the needle-bar is adjusted in the splicing position whilst the slur-cock is'traversing from D to C, in the normal position when the slur-cock is traversing from C to B, and in the splicing position when the slur-cock is traversing from B to A. Longer loops would therefore be drawn between A and B, and C and D than is the case between B and C.

As A to B and C to D, are outside the selvedge of the work at the commencement of the splice, the splicing position of the needlebar has no effect, but as the work proceeds, and the splicing threads are carried from the selvedge further into the work, the timing of the needle-bar position is varied to correspond to the shape of the spliced parts, that is to say, the needle-bar moves from the splicing to the normal position at the line B, F, and moves from the normal to the splicing position at the line C, G throughout. As

a consequence, the needle-bar is always in the splicing position when knitting any parts included between the lines A, E and B, F on one side, and the lines C, G and D, H on the other side, and inthe normal position when .cnittingthe parts between the lines B, F and The two lines B andF, and C and G, follow the shape of the inner edges of the two spliced parts, and as a result the work be tween these lines is composed of loops of A cam adapted to give the result described is shown in Figs. 1, 3 and A, and comprises a main part which is secured to the cam-shaft, and two lifts which are angularly adjustable relatively to the former.

The main part of the cam comprises a concentric disc 1 which is secured on the camshaft 2, and angularly adjustable members or lifts 3, which are mounted on the disc 1 so that they can move about the latter.

Each member or cam lift 3 consists of a segment of a ring, and these segments are disposed on one side of the main part 1, and are retained in position by connecting them to retaining ring segments 4 on the other side, by means of screws 5 which pass through both.

Each cam lift 3 is thus angularly adjustable about the main part, at any point between two extremes, and this adjustment is automatically effected whilst the machine is running by the following arrangement.

Each retaining ring segment f is provided with the segmentof a worm-wheel 6, and entherewith are worms-7 on axles 8 mounted in bearings 9 secured tothe main part 1.

These two axles 8 are geared to a third axle 10 which is at right-angles to the former, and is mounted. in a hearing 11 secured to the main part1. This axle 10 is provided with a worm 13 engaging with worm wheels 14 on the axles 8, and with a ratchet-Wheel12 which rotates in a plane parallel to that of the cam. The ratchet-wheel 12 is adapted to engage with a stationary catch as the cam moves round, whereby the cam lifts 3 are adj usted from time to time as required through the intermediary of the gearing described. The springs 23 are merely provided to take up any lost motion.

The gearing employed for connecting the two worm axles 8 to the ratchet wheel axle 10, may be either spur wheels, or worm and wheels as shown, according to the gear ratio required, and the position in which it is clesired to dispose the ratchet wheel 12.

It will be understood that with an adjustable cam of the construction described, the cam lifts 3 can be automatically adjusted by controlling the striking part in connection with the ratchet wheel 12, by means of an ordinary pattern chain. As a result'of this action, the cam will adjust the needle-bars of a knitting machine in the splicing position at certain points when drawing a course, be adapted to automatically change the timing of such movement, and consequently the points in the work where the longer loops are drawn.

The striking part or catch 15 for the ratchet wheel 12 to engage with, which is shown more clearly in Fig. 5, is carried by a block 16 which slideson a dependent arm 17 loosely mounted on the presser shaft 18. The

block 16 is held up to a stop 19 on the arm 17 by a spring 20, so that the catch will give way and obviate the risk of damage, should the cam lifts 3 reach the extremity of their movement, before the catch 15 is wit-hdrawn out of action.

In addition, the arm 17 is provided with an. antifriction roller 21 running on a cam 22 on the cam-shaft 2, and this cam is adapted to move the arm 17 and catch 15 outwards every revolution of the shaft 2, and permits of the return of the catch 15 at those periods when the ratchet wheel 12 is timed to engage with it.

This allows of the catch 15 being readily controlled or held out of action when required, by means of a detent 24, which is adapted to engage with a pin 25 on the sliding block 16, when the arm 17 is in its outer position. The detent 24 is pivoted to a bracket 26 secured to the framing, and is controlled by studs on a pattern chain.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the detent 24 is held out of action by means of a catch 27 pivoted to the bracket 26. This catch 27 is 4 moved back by a stud on the pattern chain,

and the detent 24 allowed to fall and engage with the pin, 25 on the block 16 at the extremity of its outer movement, thereby holding the catch 15 out of action when required until the arm 17 is again released.

As shown in Fig. 1, the catch 27 is connected to a lever 28 which is raised to effect the release .of the latch 24 by studs on a pattern chain 29 associated therewith, by means of a link 30, a bell crank lever 31, and a second connecting link 32.

If preferred, the detent 24 may be directly connected to the pattern chain lever 28. In this case the detent is provided with an arm 33 which is jointed to the link 32 as shown in Fig. 7. In this case the detent 24 is moved into and out of engagement with the pin 25 on the block 16, by the pattern chain. With this arrangement the catch 15'can be held out of action at intervals, and the ratchet wheel 12 advanced every two or more courses, according to the shape of thespliced parts being produced in a garment.

The adjustable cam lifts 3 on the adjustable i is also enlarged on one side, and provision.

is made for shifting it and bringing this enlarged part into contact with the adjustable cam lifts 3, when it is required to draw loops of extra length, for instance when ex ra th k splicing threads are to be introduced into a garment.

' Referring now to Fig. 6 it will be seen that the shaft 37 which is actuated by the cam lifts 3 on theadjustable cam, is connected to the ordinary needle bar operating mechanism by an arm 40 secured on the said shaft 37, having at its free end a stud 41 which engages with one of the cam-levers 42 on the needle-bar presser shaft 18. In order to break this connection as is necessary when fashiona, push piece 44 is located between the stud 41 on the arm 40 and the end of the camlever 42, and it is carried by an arm 45 pivoted ind at 46 to an extension of the cam lever 42, so

that the said push piece can be lowered out of action as required. Normally the push piece is held up by a spring 46, but is automatically depressed by the following arrangement. En-

gaging with a pin 47 on the arm 45, is the.

the cam 55, but when the cam shaft 2 is moved lon itudinally in order to bring the fashioning cams thereon into action in the usual manner, the cam is moved into the plane of the roller 54, actuates the lever 53, depresses the arm 45, and thereby moves the push piece 44 clear and out of action.

It will be understood that the cam-shaft 2 will be moved longitudinally as described when the gap 56 in the cam 55 registers with the roller 54.

The movements obtained'from the'adjustable lifts 3 on the extra cam, arethus first transmitted to the shaft 37 and from the latter to the needle-bar by means of the arm 40 on the said shaft the push piece 44 and one of the ordinary presser cam-levers 42 on the shaft 17. The connection set up is broken when fashioning by depressing the push piece 44 as previously described.

to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a knitting machine, the combination with mechanism for operating the needles, of an adjustable cam device for varying the action of the needles comprising a rotary disk, angularly adjustable cam lifts mount ed on the periphery of the disk and against one side thereof, ring segments mounted on the periphery of the disk and against the other side thereof, means for securing the cam lifts to the ring-se ments, a shaft journaled in the said disk parallel to its axis, intermediate driving devices arranged between the said shaft and the ring segments a d adapted to move th latter ci cili fe e What I claim as my invention and desire.

tially in opposite directions, atoo'thed wheel secured on the said shaft, and an automatically controlled striking device supported independently of the disk and adapted to engage with the teeth of the said wheel as the cam device is rotated.

2. In a knitting machine, the combination with mechanism for operating the needles, of an adjustable cam device for varying the action of the needles comprising a rotary disk, angularly adjustable cam lifts mounted co-axially with the disk, a shaft journaled in the said disk parallel to its axis, intermediate driving devices arranged between the said shaft and the adjustable cam lifts and adapted to move them circumferentially in opposite directions, a toothed wheel secured on the said shaft, and an automatically controlled 7 striking device supported independently of the disk and adapted to engage the teeth of the said wheel as the cam device is rotated.

3. In a knitting machine, a combination of parts as set forth in claim 2, the said intermediate driving devices comprising worm wheel segments secured to the cam lifts, Worms meshing into the worm Wheel segments, worm wheels secured co-axially with the said worms, and a worm rotating with the said toothed wheel and meshing into the last said. worm wheels.

4. In a knitting machine, a combination of parts as set forth in claim 2, the said antomatically controlled striking device com prising a pivoted arm, a spring supported block slidable on the said arm, a catch for engaging the teeth of the said toothed wheel projecting laterally from the said block, and

means for oscillating the said arm at predetermined intervals.

5. In a knitting machine, a combination of parts as set forth in claim 2, the said automatically controlled striking device comprising a pivoted arm, a spring supported block slidable on the said arm, a catch for engaging the teeth of the said toothed wheel projecting laterally from the said block, a pivoted detent for engaging automatically with the said block and holding the catch out of action when retracted, means for holding the detent out of action and releasing it automatically in accordance with the splicing to be worked, and means for oscillating the said arm atpredetermined intervals.

6. In a knitting machine, the combination with a rotary cam having ang'ularly adjustable cam lifts for varying the action of the needles, an arm projecting upwardly and actuated by the cam lifts, and a lever projecting downwardly and overlapping the said arm and operating the needle bar so as to vary the action of the needles; of an arm pivoted to the said lever and provided with a push-piece, and a spring which normally holds the last said arm raised with the pushof the first said arm and of the said lever comprising a own which rotates with the said adjustable camdev1ce, a pivoted cam lever havinga roller which engages with the said cam, and intermediate operating devices arranged between the said cam lever and the arm provided with the push-piece.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

GEORGE SMITH BLACKBURN.

Ill) 

